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Articles by Josh Gold
From Abbe’s Mat to the Ki Federation: Kenneth Williams, 1931–2026
Kenneth Williams, founder of the Ki Federation of Great Britain, died on November 3, 2026, at the age of 95. Born in London in 1931, Williams began training with Kenshiro Abbe in 1955, the year Abbe brought aikido to Britain, and was one of his first students. Abbe awarded him 1st dan in 1959, and in 1961 Williams was appointed National Coach of the British Aikido Council.
Ellis Amdur on the Dojo’s Second Promise
Pay It Forward, by Josh Gold Most of our lives have been changed for the better through martial arts. Budo Accelerator exists to give more young people that chance. Today we’re launching our first scholarship campaign as we get ready to open our program, Budo Scholar, nationally in early 2027. Once it opens, any young person aged 14 to 22 who already trains in a martial art can join. Budo Scholar is a year-round leadership program, first developed and accredited at UC Irvine.
What we’ve been building at Budo Accelerator
Greetings from Aikido Journal. I hope you’ve been finding something worthwhile in the articles we’ve been bringing back out of the archive. There’s a great deal in there, including interviews, technical writing, and history that had been inaccessible for years. We’re steadily working our way through the remaining articles. More will be on the way soon.
“Aikido and the universal spirals,” by
In recent times, several scientists, both physicists and mathematicians, are realizing the importance and the deep connection of spiral forms in our universe. Finding empirically such a geometry in the world around us is rather natural: in nature, spirals are very common. Draining water in bathtubs, tornados, whirlpools are all clear examples of the spiral form that arises from these phenomena. But there are spirals almost everywhere, even where we wouldn’t expect to find them.
Why We Fail To Develop Aikido
“Train and forget..” Morihei Ueshiba “Train and forget..” Morihei Ueshiba Why did he say this? The learning does not take place during training!! But modern Westerners, smitten with the pathology of instant gratification, like to imagine they can short cut the processes of nature with hubris and intellect. So we go home imagining “we have learnt a technique.” Or otherwise beating themselves up for having “forgotten.” You’ve “learned” NOTHING! You have “forgotten” nothing.
Nev’s reply - Aikido Journal
Nev’s reply This began as a simple thank you for Alister Gillies’s, “Change As Part of the Cycle of Movement in Aikido,” article. But then what his words inspired began to travel. I did a word count. 🙂 As it turned out I could not convey what I wanted to say briefly. Again. Apologies. I could say it in 15 words or less but then it would be saying something else. Well, here goes..
The World of Illusion
“Aikido is not intended as a “mutual-admiration-society,” but rather an authentic platform to add value to the world in nuts-and-bolts ways that truly make a difference! If we are not learning and growing together, we are condescending and condescension is the very toxin war is made of.” There is an old Tibetan litany, that repeatedly resolves with the chant “…for this is the world of illusion..” and indeed it is. Now for the average drone the world of illusion is sufficient.
“Fū-Rin-Ka-Zan and the Evolution of the Peaceful Warrior,” by Christopher Huxley
The Warring States period (sengoku jidai) of Japanese history was a time of immense social upheaval and frequent military conflict. It lasted from just after the middle of the 15th century until the beginning of the 17th century (1467 to 1600). During this period the Samurai perfected many aspects of bujitsu ranging from armed and unarmed combat on a personal level to strategies involving armies of tens of thousands of men.
Deceitful Uke, Deceitful Nage
About 25 years ago I observed an otherwise legitimate meditation group descend into becoming a cheap and nasty, toxic cult. This happened because the person who had founded the group, because of her exemplary qualities, was placed onto an imaginary pedestal by people who assigned her a mythical status in their minds. Whilst the founder of the group was barely aware and discouraged such aberration, she appeared subtly influenced by the limelight that was offered.
Adversity, a Secret Ally
“Adversity is inevitable.” I have a friend who seems to time temptation perfectly to take me away from responsibility and lead me astray, so to speak. At first I resented this, especially when I capitulated to play when I should have been working, but over time I began to appreciate the opportunity to do the right thing despite the honey-on-the knife that was being presented. After all, he does not know he’s doing it. Simply, his days off rarely coincide with mine.
Daito-ryu’s Ippondori… “Where does Aikido’s Ikkyo come from?”
We have repeatedly made the claim that the majority of aikido techniques have their origins in the Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu curriculum. There is perhaps no better example than aikido’s most practiced basic form, ikkyo. The precursor of ikkyo is Daito-ryu’s ippondori. Ikkyo was altered in some important ways, mostly by the Aikikai in the postwar era. Morihei Ueshiba’s execution of ikkyo in Iwama after the war more closely resembled the Daito-ryu ippondori than what was being practiced in Tokyo.
We Fight Ourselves
“Simply be the best that you can be, for you, for today!.”.. “Success is reliant first on showing up. Then putting in the work. And regular persistence in manageable instalments.” Mostly, the key attribute – that of efficiency – of all combat training (or any art for that matter) is mastered in old age when it is likely, though not assured, that it may not be needed. The so called but feared, “soft style,” is a misnomer.
What is the meaning of Katsujinken
Literally the term means “the life-giving sword” or “the animating sword”. However, it does not so much refer to the physical sword as to swordsmanship. The concept is the opposite of setsunin-tõ: “the killing [life-taking] sword [swordsmanship]”. Around 1600 these concepts received a second (spiritual and philosophical) meaning in the Yagyu Shinkage Ryu, which was strongly influenced by Zen Buddhism. Katsujin-ken now also referred to the sword that animates the sword fighter.
Sunk Cost – The Diminishing Returns of Non-Adaptivity
“Each moment is made new!” Morihei Ueshiba “The definition of madness is to repeat the same errors hoping for a different outcome.” The technique continued to fail but he kept trying to justify it instead of making adjustments. Waffling about how, “This is what I was taught…” and the superiority of his new school, he insisted we keep on doing it even though it kept not working. His increasing frustration became evident in his frown, tension and pent up rage. Was he really taught this garbage?
Dojo – Holding Space
“..it is impossible to, “teach” as such.” From time to time I get people approach me and say things such as, “You’re a great teacher.” I disagree and I dislike the term, “teacher.” There is no such thing. There are only people who want to learn and people who want to facilitate learning. If anyone could teach we would have educated rocks walking around and it would be possible to make stupid people smart. Or at least stop them from getting into politics. But we can’t. So let’s be honest.
O’Sensei’s Tantric Practices
“Aikido is the practice of mastering ACTIVE MEDITATION with the primary of life, BREATH as its basis. On this basis is a tantric art. – Put simply, Tantra is Meditation in Action.
It’s Already Here! It Always Was!
“..and inside the cave found a vast treasure trove of such immense wealth that it could have changed his life, a long time ago. Everything could have been so different.” “Lamed-Vav Tzadikim: Sacredness in the Ordinary” “It is said that at all times there are 36 unique people in the world, and that were it not for them, all of them, if even one of them was missing, the world would come to an end. These 36 are referred to as the Lamed-Vav Tzadikim. Tzadikim means a righteous soul.
Didier Boyet: On T.K. Chiba
Intro Josh Gold: You studied under Chiba Sensei for many years. His Aikido was quite dynamic and powerful. I heard he many people were captivated by his Aikido when they first saw him. Didier Boyet: He was extremely powerful as you said – very dynamic and very demanding. He didn’t have that many students; he had a few. A lot of people first saw him and said, “oh very interesting, that’s powerful,” but once he throws you, a lot of people would give up because it was painful.
Tohei: Tangling with the Yakuza
From Module X in our new Ki Aikido course In Iwama, Ueshiba Sensei was looking after the wife of one of his students who had died. It turned out, however, that she had begun seeing the boss of the local yakuza gang. It had become something of a scandal, but I thought it was a private matter and did not say anything. Tadashi Abe, on the other hand, was quite enraged at the situation. He confronted the gangster when he came around to see the woman, and gave him a thrashing.
table test - Aikido Journal
Year Event text Ki Society Koichi Tohei 1883 Birth of Morihei Ueshiba in Tanabe, Kii Province (Wakayama Prefecture) on December 14. 1901 Moves to Tokyo in September and works in business of relative Koshiro Inoue. Studies Tenshin Shinyo-ryu Jujutsu under Tokusaburo Tozawa in Tokyo. Possible brief study of Shinkage-ryu Sword school. 1903 Marries Hatsu Itogawa in Tanabe. Joins 61st Army Infantry Regiment of Wakayama (late December).
From Aikido Journal – 24-hour sale of “Christian Tissier: An Aikido Odyssey” at 50% off!
We are pleased to continue with our weekly offers of Aikido Journal DVDs at a 50% discount for a 24-hour period. Today, we are offering the outstanding DVD titled “Christian Tissier: An Aikido Odyssey” for the reduced price of $19.95, half the retail price. This one-of-a-kind DVD presents an in-depth look at the life and martial art of one of Aikido’s preeminent masters, Christian Tissier, 7th dan.
Interview with Christian Tissier: The Order of the Rising Sun, 60 Years on the Mat, and the Future of Aikido
In this Aikido Journal interview, we sit down with Christian Tissier shortly after he received the prestigious Order of the Rising Sun from the Japanese government. Reflecting on an incredible 60 years on the mat, Tissier Sensei shares insights on the true purpose of Budo, his ongoing pursuit of the “perfect axis” in technique, and the evolution of his iconic Paris dojo. He also discusses the state of Aikido in 2026 and why unifying the art’s global message is critical for its future.
The Fracture and the Future: Jacques Payet on the Evolution of Yoshinkan Aikido (Part 2)
This is part 2 of our 2 part interview with Jacques Payet Sensei. You can read part 1 here. Josh Gold: In general, would you say Shioda Sensei was calm? Jacques Payet: Yes, and he was very kind. He was extremely demanding with his uchi-deshi, but very kind to everyone else. But that’s because he was so demanding of himself. He expected the same from everyone around him—except the office staff or people who weren’t truly committed to training. That was during my first five-year stay in Japan.
The Fracture and the Future: Jacques Payet on the Evolution of Yoshinkan Aikido
Jacques Payet Sensei, born in 1957, in Saint-Leu, Réunion, is a distinguished 8th Dan Yoshinkan Aikido instructor renowned for his dedication to the art. As the longest-serving non-Japanese uchi-deshi (live-in student) of Yoshinkan founder Gozo Shioda, Payet’s journey in Aikido is marked by profound commitment and cultural immersion.
Ryuji Shirakawa on Modern Aikido: Movement, Mindset, and Evolution
Ryuji Shirakawa Sensei (6th dan) is one of the most recognizable and dynamic figures in Aikido today. Known for his athletic, flowing movement and his cross-disciplinary exchanges with other martial arts, Shirakawa Sensei represents a new generation of Japanese budoka who are deeply rooted in tradition yet willing to explore new paths. As he prepares for his first U.S. seminar in California, we spoke with him about his journey, his philosophy, and his hopes for the future of Aikido.
Letter from the Editor, March 2024
Greetings from Aikido Journal. As we near the end of Q1, 2024, I wanted to provide you with a short update on my recent thoughts and activities. First off, this month marks the seventh anniversary of the passing of Stanley Pranin, founder of Aikido Journal. Reflecting on his legacy, it’s clear his contributions have deeply influenced many of today’s great Aikido teachers, and the art of Aikido itself.
Business Lessons from the Tatami: How Aikido Principles Shape Entrepreneurship
Feras is a 3rd-degree black belt in Aikido and is an assistant instructor and a youth instructor at Aikido Silicon Valley. Feras’ first foray into entrepreneurship started with a layoff notice from the cutting-edge tech startup that he had joined after moving to Silicon Valley. This catalyst led him to found, grow, and sell businesses in Silicon Valley and abroad, scaling them from zero revenue to 7 and 8 figures. Feras has since served as an advisor to 150+ founders.
A Journey Through Aikido: Robert Nadeau on Spirituality, O-Sensei, and the Golden Age of Aikido in California
Robert Nadeau was a personal student of the founder of Aikido, Morihei Ueshiba, and is one of the most senior teachers of Aikido active in the world today. He holds the rank of 8th dan and was certified as shihan (master teacher) by Aikido World Headquarters (Hombu Dojo). Nadeau has been a key figure in the growth and development of Aikido in America.
A Path Towards Revitalizing Aikido, by Ellis Amdur
by Ellis Amdur “Contributing to a program like Budo Accelerator becomes a crucial investment in the well-being and development of the next generation. As society grapples with profound changes, providing young people with an activity that goes beyond the individual and equips them with essential life skills becomes not just desirable but essential.
Aikido at a Crossroads: Interview with Jason Perna
Jason Perna Sensei is Chief Instructor of Old City Aikido in Philadelphia, PA. He began practicing Aikido at the age of 17 and now brings over 30 years of practical experience to his daily training and teaching. His upbringing in traditional Iwama-Ryu, as well as many years of training in Aikikai Aikido, gives him a well-balanced approach to his understanding of the art and teaching methodology.
Op-ed | Delivery workers in New York deserve a fair earnings standard that works
Sign up for our amNY Sports email newsletter to get insights and game coverage for your favorite teams Delivery workers in New York deserve a fair earnings standard that works. Unfortunately, a recent op-ed by Commissioner Vilda Vera Mayuga, who heads the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP), that promulgated the minimum earnings rule, is so filled with inaccuracies that it risks misleading workers and creating unrealistic expectations. As such, we have no choice but to respond.
Poland Itinerary, Class 3B
Skip to main content Jewish Book Council, founded in 1943, is the longest-running organization devoted exclusively to the support and celebration of Jewish literature. Get the latest reviews, news, and more in your inbox. Ilustration, cropped, by Laura Junger Leeor Ohayon is a writer from London based in Norwich, where he is beginning a PhD in Creative – Critical Writing at the University of East Anglia. He is the 2021 winner of the Royal Society of Literature’s V.
Uber: We Do Support Congestion Pricing, But With One Caveat
By There have been concerns in these pages and elsewhere about Uber’s recent communications to users of our platform regarding congestion pricing. Let me be unequivocally clear: Uber supports congestion pricing. In NYC, this means supporting a Finding Of No Significant Impact (“FONSI”) by the Federal Highway Administration so that congestion pricing can finally move forward. We’ve long supported road pricing in New York City, and even in other cities where it is less popular.
Incoming New York City Councilmembers Retreat
Meet the Class of 2022 City & State is hosting an incoming New York City Councilmembers Retreat. Esteemed speakers, officials and public policy leaders discuss a broad array of topics incoming Councilmembers are usually expected to learn on the job. We are inviting all Councilmembers (and other levels of NYC government), with Council speaker candidates joining the discussions.
Canada’s Scattered and Uncoordinated Cyber Foreign Policy: A Call for Clarity
In mid-July, Canada joined the United States and U.K. in attributing COVID-19 vaccine-related hacking to the Russian government. In response, Canadian Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan called for reinforcing a “common understanding of rules-based norms,” and for deterrence against foreign actors.
A Deep Dive into Canada’s Overhaul of Its Foreign Intelligence and Cybersecurity Laws
Following the release of documents by Edward Snowden, many of the Western governments whose agencies’ activities were implicated in the leaks raced to update and modernize their national security legislation. Such legislation was, in at least some cases, designed to clearly establish the legality of activities and operations that had been already undertaken for many years in near-absolute secrecy.
Canada to join NATO’s cyber defence research centre
On November 28 in Tallinn, Estonia, Canadian Governor General Julie Payette visited the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (CCDCOE), which Canada is in the process of joining. Canada is among the last NATO countries to become a member of the 11-year-old defence hub, after years of delays both bureaucratic and logistical. Better late than never; this is a welcome and beneficial move for Canada, and one that should be finalized in the coming months.
Kolga and Gold: How the Kremlin distorts the past to divide us
Putin's weaponization of the history of fascism and Nazism for propaganda purposes must be rejected. Even legendary human rights activist Lyudmila Alexeyeva has been labelled a fascist by Kremlin propagandists. Photo by NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA /AFP/Getty Images Article content The following is offered in rebuttal to a Feb.
Cyber warfare is the new reality. Canada’s allies are offering help. We should take it
Following a visit to Ottawa by Estonian Prime Minister Jüri Ratas, Canada has announced closer digital co-operation with with our Baltic ally. This is a welcome move. Estonia is a world leader in digital public services — and cyber defence. It has to be. Upon regaining its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, Estonia’s leaders needed to modernize the country’s economy and infrastructure. Estonia devoted its resources to new fields, particularly the internet.
LETTER: Only One Choice
LETTER: Only One Choice We have the great opportunity to put kids first by electing an educator and mom who will bring classroom values to the Board—something that can only happen if we elect Ilana in the primary and general election By JOSH GOLD, Updated: June 10, 2016 11:46 am Dear Editor, I am writing in regard to the Colorado State Board of Education primary in CD6. There are two candidates running in the Democratic primary for this seat.
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